Inflatable life-saving equipment of soldiers.



E. W. SOOWDBN. INFLATABLE LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT 0F SOLDIERS.

APPLICATION FI LED PEB.17, 1911.

E. W. SGOWDEN. INFLATABLE LIFE SAYING EQUIPMENT 0F SOLDIERS 'APPLIGATION TILED PEB.17, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912.

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l ,tBEtijli, specification of Letters Patent.

.llglplicetimi filed February 1?, 191,3. fleiial No. 389,147.

To all evil am tmcy concern lfie it known that l, Eowano 3V.

Soot-Venn, a citizen of the .tlatahle Litefiaving Equipment of Soldiers,

of which. the following is a specification.

M WBIllllOil relates LO certain new encl useful improvements in the application of air cells or compartments placed along the outer e iges of e poncho, shelter hall, or other similar parts of the equipment of a soldier, and has for its object the facility of heingquickly inflated so as to support the lllfillVltillfll soldier and his regulation marching equipment, while crossing any l]OCl of water, requirecl to he crossed in an. emergency. When a soldier is under heavy marching order, his blanket, poncho, and shelter half, to be most conveniently carriecl, are rolled so to term the shape of a sling; which is placed over the one shoulder, and the two extremities of the roll extend {lingonally across the hotly, and are attached at their two by suitable straps shown in Figure 5, to the belt of the soldier, a line, forming a U point near the Waist shaped pack as shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 6 ol the drawings. in the form shown, and while thus sue ended overthe shoulder of' the soldier, antl attecheoi asshown, the air compartments in the poncho or the shelter half, disposed Within the blanket roll, may he tilled with air through the mouth pieces protruding therefrom. as shown in Figs. engl and thus create of the blanket roll :1 life saving belt or buoy, of sulticient clis- Jlaccmentto so Jort the solclier in an 11 3 right position in the water. The soldier being able thereby to sustain himself for a long time in the water, or when floating or swimming across it stream, the inflation has sul'licient buoyancy to enable a soldier to operate and tire any service arm, either a musket or pis'toi should emergency require it.

To provide e'cciclents or punctures of the air compartments, and thus destroying its buoyancy, I provide aplurality of compartments which may be simultaneously inflated, by being severally connected to one center artervot imitation, and arranged to he aleiiatetl singly an i in ser-z'atim hy the rowu, new icon.

SGLDIEBS Fateiiteil Jone e, 1912.

or for use in connection with. my apparatus. The construction thus attained will permit of a port ot the compartments lacing punotureo or destroyed, without the whole device lacing rendered. useless.

Another object of my invention is to provicle sutlicient huoyancy to poncho or shelter half, to facilitate its being used as an cm 'cy lighter or conveyance, for the transportation of supplies and equipments of the sole r in crossing a stream, thus permitting" the entire equipment of clothing of the soldier as Worn on the march, to be placed in the cente'r of the shelter half and supported thereby While being towed across the stream. In this manner troops so equipped, may cross a stream, without creating the (liscon forts and draw back of marching in a un Iorm that has been immersed in water.

My invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the several parts, their application in the manner shown by incorporating into a poncho or shelter halt, one more compartments capahie holding an under pressure, a less number than a whole of which will have a.

sustaining power suflicient to be effective in, event that. a portion ofthe compartments become punctured or lose their air holding properties from any cause, so that a puncture in one of the compartments, will not render the entire roll useless as a sustaining means, as the remaining compartment or compartments will be sutlicient to retain its buoyancy and life saving properties.

These objects and other objects in View will he set forth in the specification, and more particularl pointed out in the claims.

In order to more fully describe my said inrei'i'l'ion reference will loo had to the accompanying chie-wii Q in which:

Fit 1 is plan View of a poncho equipped with invention co: nlete. Fig. 2, is an cnlai' VltZW showing in sicle elevation, the 3 and (letlating clerices. Fig. 3, is an ail View, in end. elevation corre- 1g. l, is an enlarged low of the inflating tube showve therein. Fig. 5, illustrates application and. Fig. 6, shows application anti use.

enlrg' sp one 4 value of novel construction g, nos

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a poncho or a shelter hal composed of any suitable fabric, preferably in rectangular form. Around the outer edges thereof are placed air cells or compartments,

K, L, to be inflated in a manner hereinafter more fully .described.

In Figs. 2, and 3, are shown an inflating and deflating valve mechanism of novel. con struction, consisting as shown of a nipple 3, having its outer surface screw threaded to engage the sleeve 5, which is screw threaded on its inner surface to register with the threads on nipple 3, and adapted to he screwed ovei' the nipple 3, down against, and compress gasket 10, placed against the shoulder 11, of the nipple socket. Passing through the nipple 8, is an air passage provided with a check valve 41:, and communicating with inflating tube 2.v The check valve 4:, is so placed as to allow air to be injected through the nipple 3, and into the air tube 2, but prevents the air from escaping through the same orifice by which it is introduced.

In Fig. 2, are shown air ports 6, 7, ti, and

I 9, leading from the exhaust air tubes by means of which the air may be exhausted by unscrewing sleeve 5, to a point where the inner end thereofuncovers the aperture of port 6, communicating with the exhaust tube (],-leading from one of the air compartments. As the air port 6, .is uncovered, the air is allowed to escape, and if no further compartments are to be emptied the sleeve 5, is screwed down to engage and compress gasket 10, retaining the air in the remaining compartments communicating with ports 7, 8, and 9..

It will be observed that the arrangement and placing of the air ports, have been so located in the side walls of the nipple 3,-

' that the uncovering and opening of the same are governed by the dlstance which the sleeve 5,.1s unscrewed.

For the purpose of inflating the several compartments, I provide for inflating one moiety thereof through one independent inflating valved. nipple placed in the center of one end of the poncho or shelter half, and for inflating the other moiety ofthe air compartments, through another independent valved nipple placed opposite at the other end. By this novel arrangement I am 'enabled to inflate one half, or all of the compartments'as desired, as well as avoiding and lessening the danger of the apparatus being incapacitated by the destruction. through puncture or otherwise disabling the working parts of one of the independent in dating means. Leading to each of the several air com- D, H P331. F, l G, fifriii/ -ma e J, K, L', are inflatlng ducts 33 and area B wliich connect with the main inflating tube 2, which passes into and connects with mouthpiece or inflating nipple 3.

For the purpose of retaining individualair compartment, I provide a.

and a similar valve in each one of the indating ducts B and B which permit of the passage of air into each separate compartment, but prevents the escape of the air partments are inflated.

In the inflation of the poncho. or shelter half the operation is as follows: If in the form shown in Fig. 5, thesoldier places the nipple 3, in his mouth, and by blowing therethrougli the air thus expelled from his lungs passes through the inflating tube 2, into the various compartments by the air ducts B and B The valve 4, in the air inflating tube 2, prevents the air from es valve, and through the valves placed in each of the independent inflating ducts B and B in inflating the several compartments of the poncho or shelter half, when not in the term of the blanket roll, it is obvious thatinflation is accomplished in a similar manner.

When it is desired to deflate one or more of the compartments the sleeve 5, threaded upon the nipple 3, is unscrewed until the first port 6, of the exhaust tube C is uncovered thus allowing the air in compartment D to be full exhausted. If an other compartment is esired to be emptied, the sleeve 5, is further unscrewed until port 7,0f the exhaust tube C, allowing the air in compartment E, to be fully exhausted. Should it be desired to still further exhaust another air compartment the sleeve is unscrewed until port 8, is uncovered'allowing the air from compartiuent-F, to escape until fully exhausted. In like manner the sleeve 5, may be further unscrewed until port 9, of the exhaust tubes G has been uncovered thus allowing the air in compartment G to become fully exhausted. In

compartments thus leading into the one independent inflating and deflating nipple may be exhausted. in a like manner: the air compartment communicating ith the other independei'it intiatinger ,de ating ,nipple may likewise he enhausted.

The air compartments and themanner of inflating and deflating the same by the novel arrangement shown may he applied to, and used in connection with articles of equipment of a soldier, other than the form which 1 herein show, so that 1' do not desire to be limited to their use in. the manner shown.

What I do claim my invention is:

1. The combination with an army blanket of a plurality of air chamhete integral therecaping after it has passed through saidcorresponding this mam'icr the 'air in one half of all of the the air in each suitable valve 4, in the main inflating tube through the same duct by which the'comscribed, comprising a sheet of fabric prosaid air receivers throng fiatmg tubes leading from a common 111- vide'cl with air chambers integral t ereto, inflating tubes communicating with said air chambers, and deflating tubes leading therc-- from, the said inflating and deflating robes leading through a combination valve piece common to all.

3. The combination with a blanket roll or a-soldier of a plurality of inflatable air receivers attached to the equipr Ill W1- said roll, means for simultaneously inflating Hating duct, and means for refiating each. air receiver through an independent (lQflllir ing tube, the said inflating and deflating tubes leading throughe combination valve piece common to all. I

4. The combination with the blanketroll of a soldier, of a plurality of air attached to a poncho placed "'hin said roll, means for inflating said chambers While Within said blanket roll, and independent means for deflating each oi? the air chambers substantially as described.

5. An inflatable army poncho of the cha acter described, comprising a sheet the ric, air compartments placed along the thereof, means for infiatin said comp: ments, retaining means to maintain. th ir Within said compartments, and 'iidependent means for deflating said compartments in seriatz'm.

6. The combination with o soldiers blanket roll of a sheet of fabric placed there in comprising a life buoy, coneistine' of a plurality of air compartments attached to the sheet of fabric Within said roll, means for simultaneousl inflating said air receiv ers through a plurality of inflating t leading to a comirion inflating duct,-

means for defiatingeuch air receiver through an independent deflating tube, the said inflating and deflating tubes leading through a conduit located outside of said roll c0gnmon to all.

7. The combination with a blanket roll oi a soldier of a plurality of air compartments placed therein, with inflating tubes connected therewith,- inllating valves in said tubes and a mouth piece attached to said tubing provided with similar valves, graduated means for exhausting each com-- partnient singly. 4

8. The combination with the blanket roll of a soldier, of a sheet of fabric contained therein provided with a plurality inflatable air receivers, on inflating tube from said air receivers, a:

chambers on inflating tube leadine' from said cheel-I valve to hold the air Wit receivers an inde iendent i provided with a graduating v ror exhausting said ll receivers singly compris- 5.11; a nipple 3, a sleeve 5, adapted to cover a uncover exhaust ports l3, and 9, suwtantiel described.

in combination with a blanket roll of e soldier, an inflatable float placed within said roll consisting of e fabric sheet provided with air compartments, inflat ng tubes leading therefrom, 11 valve co=' body 3, having a encircl adapted to scr w down on g cover-ports t3, 7, and 9, as des bed. 10.

a inwithin each lDLlQRGILClGIlt compartment,

and independent means for deflating" said compartments in sem'a't'im.

l. The combination with th oi? a soldier, of a plural ty of attached to sh et 0" s id. roll, ir ins for l.- ilil a. 1r While 1 tl'iin said blan A roll, and independent means i" deflating each of the air chambers comprising a verve s 'l :i hav" ports 6, 7, 8, and t is cicin,

5, adapted to encir a sleeve n H, and to cover and uncover said ports senior 2 m, substantially as described. 7

12, The combination with an army poncho of a plurality of air compartments, a plurality of inflating tubescommunicating with one im ating duct, means for re taming air under comprossioirin each of said compartments,- and deflatingmeans inclependentiy connected with each compart ment leading to one deflating valve SlllJSliiIb tial ljy as described.

13. The combination with the blanket roll of a soldier, of an air chamber attached to c sheet of fabric contained within said roll, means for inflating said air chamber independent means for deflating said air chamber, inflating and deflating means passing through a combination valve piece common to both.

The combination with the blanket roll of a soldier, of an air compartment pieced therein, en inflating" tube connected. there with, a check valve in said tube, mouth piece attached to said tube and graduated means for exhausting said air eon'ipartment through combination valve comn'ion to said inflating tube,

25.. The coml ination Wit/o the blanket roll of a soldier, of a sheet or "brie contained "therein, an air cell attached to said sheet, r cell, checli: valve to hold the mouth piece,

thereof, means for inflating said compartments, retaining means to maintain the flating tube leading therefrom, valye consisting of a body having a sleeve encircling said body adapted to screw down on gasket 10, and to cover an exhaust port substantially as described.

17. The combination with a blanket roll of a soldier of an air compartment attached to the equipment Within said roii, means for inflating and deflating said oon1partmeement. iiy independent tiibes leading through a combination valve p1ece common to both located outside of said roll.

18. The combination with a blanket roll of a soldier, ofan air compartment attached to the equipment within said roll, inflating and. deflating tubes leading from said air compartment to a combination valve piece located outside of'said roll common to said inflating and deflating tubes;

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence ot two'witnesses.'

EDWARD-W. SCOVVDEN.

Witnesses iD'AMUEL B. CRANDALL, H. Tnonnnm'. 

